bonito
/boˈnito/
The Spanish word bonito refers to a fish of the Sarda genus.
In this specific context, bonito is a noun used to identify a type of fish.
Meaning: fish of Sarda (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal term chulo/a, which means cool or nice, is used in some regions, particularly in Spain.
How do you pronounce it?
/boˈnito/
Did you know?
- While bonito is a noun for a fish, it is also a common adjective meaning 'pretty'. This means a sentence can describe a bonito bonito, which literally translates to a 'pretty bonito'.
- Because bonito is a homonym for 'pretty', Spanish speakers often use puns involving the fish in seafood restaurant names and menus to create a play on words.
- Some historians believe the word bonito was not created from Spanish roots but was instead borrowed from the Arabic word bīnīṯ.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué bonita vista!What a beautiful view!
- Me encanta tu nuevo corte de pelo. ¡Qué bonito te queda!I love your new haircut. It suits you so well!
- Esa camiseta se ve muy chula.That shirt looks really nice.
- Me encanta tu apartamento, está bien chévere.I love your apartment, it looks really nice.
- ¡Qué chulo ese sombrero!That hat is really nice!
- ¡Tienes una casa bien chula!You have a really nice house!
- Estoy enamorado/a de esta ciudad, es tan bonita como en las fotos.I'm in love with this city, it's as beautiful as it looks in the pictures.
- El bonito es muy fresco hoy.The bonito is very fresh today.
- Compré un bonito para la cena.I bought a bonito for dinner.
- Me gusta cocinar el bonito con tomate.I like cooking bonito with tomato.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are at a fish market.
- LucíaMira, Javier, este bonito se ve muy fresco.Look, Javier, this bonito looks very fresh.
- JavierTienes razón, Lucía. Vamos a comprarlo.You are right, Lucía. Let's buy it.
- Lucía¿Cuánto cuesta el kilo de bonito?How much is a kilo of bonito?
- JavierEl vendedor dice que está muy barato.The seller says it is very cheap.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bonito” translations and entries bonito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
